Israel cannot afford confrontation with Iran: IRGC Commander

Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, the commander of the IRGC's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters (file photo)

A senior Iranian commander has warned that the Israeli regime would not be able to bear the cost of a possible confrontation with the Islamic Republic.

"Today, the Zionist regime (of Israel) understands and acknowledges the Islamic Republic of Iran's power in the region more than the past and will avoid testing it, because it cannot manage any confrontation with Iran and bear its cost," Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, said in a Sunday meeting with security officials and experts of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

He added that Iran had succeeded in defeating Daesh terrorist group in the region and restoring stability to Syria and Iraq, stressing that the Islamic Republic had also increased its deterrence power to counter military and security threats.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in October that Iran’s defense might was not up for negotiation, stressing the country’s resolve to strengthen its defense capabilities despite enemy attempts to weaken the nation.

“When it comes to defense equipment and whatever that backs up the national power, we have no bargaining and deals with the enemy, and will continue on the path of power with more strength than before,” the Leader added.

In another part of his remarks, the IRGC commander advised the United States to avoid being trapped in a quagmire as a result of the Zionist regime's policies to create crisis and start military conflict.

Rashid added that the US and Israel have created an Arab-Hebrew-Western front against Iran and have caused the issue of Palestine, which is the most important issue of the Islamic world, to be marginalized.